BIOSTIMULANTS CAN INCREASE GROWTH OF GREEN-HOUSE-GROWN ORNAMENTAL ANNUALS
Three biostimulants, Grow-plex (Menefee Mining Corp., Dallas), Roots 2 (LISA Product Corp., Independence, Mo.), and Root n' Shoot (Natural Organic Products International, Mount Dora, Fla.) were applied to transplanted plugs of Salvia splendens `Empire Red' and Begonia semperflorens `Varsity Pink' and `Varsity Brite Scarlet'. Root n' Shoot drench (0.78%) solutions at transplant increased root weight, but a 1.56% solution decreased root weight of Salvia, although shoot growth was unaffected. Root n' Shoot decreased shoot growth of Begonia, but did not affect root growth. Roots 2 treatments (0.25% or 2.00%) increased shoot weight of Salvia, but did not affect the root growth of Salvia or the root or shoot growth of Begonia. Spraying Grow-plex (0.78% or 1.56%) to runoff at transplanting and 2 weeks after transplanting did not affect root or shoot growth of Salvia or Begonia.